Markets and sustainability – where have we been and where are we going?

1. Markets and sustainability – where have we been and where are we going? Duncan Leadbitter Regional Director Asia Pacific - MSC

2. In the past ten years there has been considerable growth in number and diversity of market oriented actions aimed at seeking sustainable use. Some of these include: Trade controls: now even being used by management bodies such as RFMOs. Many trade measures have an enormous influence on markets and supply mechanisms Much greater focus on supply chains to ensure that illegal supply is targeted. Catch documentation increasing Fish names and identification also a focus : to reduce illegal supply and provide customer assurance Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainable procurement policies by companies at various points of the supply chain Certification and labelling – to acknowledge success Consumer advisories of various sorts

3. What are the advantages of this proliferation? “Boat to throat” action on sustainability – threats to sustainable use extend beyond the resources of agencies to control. Opportunities to increase customer confidence – not just sustainability related but food quality as well Helps deal with the drivers of and incentives for unsustainable use

4. What are the disadvantages? Costs of running systems – increased traceability, Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) Potential for consumer confusion and greenwashing Potential for trade impacts Potential for duplication and/or mismatching objectives – e.g. CITES vs fisheries management

5. Some issues to ponder In some respects things are moving so fast that checks and balances have either not been devised or are inadequate in some areas In other areas things are not moving fast enough – traceability mechanisms are at best rudimentary in most parts of the world. Post harvest sector very engaged in other parts of the world but not even at the table here in Australia - yet

6. Where may things go in the next ten years? Pressures on fish resources will increase as wealth increases and new impacts of fishing and aquaculture will be identified There is no doubt that the landscape has changed in terms of the ways in which fishery production is controlled – traditional fisheries regulation is but one of a suite of control measures The old ways may continue to work for very local, short chain supply systems but new ways of doing business will need to evolve to meet the new challenges New business opportunities have already opened up but these will only increase as entrepreneurs move into the diversified marketplace

7. Where does Australia sit? Policy level – up there with world leaders Performance – no less variable from species to species, area to area and fishery to fishery than many other western nations Public understanding – declining from 2002 to 2007 Non government, non industry engagement – long way behind

9. Opportunities for fisheries www.msc.org Marine Stewardship Council Number of Fisheries in the MSC Program

10. MSC Labelled Product Lines Over Time March 2000 – March 2008 Tuna 2002 Tuna 2004 Tuna 2008 Tuna 2006